Giambi, other vets make Tucson trip

So much for veterans skipping the long road trip to Tucson. Jason Giambi, Jack Cust, Bobby Crosby and Kurt Suzuki are among those who made the trip south and are in the lineup today against the Diamondbacks. Bob Geren said he never thought of giving Giambi, a 13-year veteran, the day off. “I’ve played him every other day,” Geren said. “If I didn’t play him today, he wouldn’t have played for three days.” The A’s are off tomorrow.

–Geren said Eric Chavez was scheduled to work out today before deciding if he was to play third base on Tuesday for the first time in a game this spring. “He wants to throw some balls on the run. That’s the toughest throw to make (coming off shoulder surgery). If that goes well, he’ll be cleared to play.”